Seeking to establish an authority to safeguard consumers right, Cabinet y approved a new Consumer Protection Bill.
The new bill contains the provisions for penalty and jail terms in case of adulteration and misleading ads by companies. Celebrities endorsing misleading ads are also liable for fine and ban of up to three years.

According to sources, the Cabinet has approved introduction of the Consumer Protection Bill, 2017, which will result in withdrawal of a bill brought in 2015.

In August 2015, the Centre had introduced the Consumer Protection Bill in the Lok Sabha to repeal the 30-year-old Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

Parliamentary Standing Committee had also submitted its recommendations in April last year. It should be noted that consumer affairs ministry has brought this bill as there were many amendments to the bill introduced in 2015.

On misleading ads, the bill provides for fine and ban on celebrities. In case of first offence, the fine will be up to Rs 10 lakh and a one-year ban on any endorsement. For the second offence, the fine will be up to Rs 50 lakh and up to three years’ ban.

However, for manufacturers and companies, penalty is up to Rs 10 lakh and up to two years’ jail for the first offence. The fine will be up to Rs 50 lakh and five years’ jail for subsequent offence.

The bill also provides for penalty and up to life term jail sentence in case of adulteration.